I realize that the far right is still simmering with rage over the Gang of 14’s compromise over judicial nominees, but it’s hard to believe right-wing activists and groups could be so upset that they’d seriously consider primary challenges for the Republicans involved in the negotiations.<\/p>\n
And yet, here we are.<\/p>\n
About a week after the group of lawmakers short-circuited Bill Frist’s plan to execute the nuclear option, talk of intra-party fights for lawmakers up for re-election is growing more intense.<\/p>\n
* Lindsey Graham<\/b> (R-S.C.) — The same day James Dobson lashed out at Graham on his nationally syndicated radio program, Thomas Ravenel, a businessman and former candidate for the Republican nomination to the state’s other Senate seat, said he would consider challenging Graham in a GOP primary in 2008. Ravenel told in-state reporters Graham is “the third senator from New York<\/a>.”<\/p>\n * Mike DeWine<\/b> (R-Ohio) — The day after the compromise was announced, Phil Burress, a far-right activist in Cincinnati who helped rally a successful campaign against same-sex marriage in Ohio, convened a conference call with more than 50 of the state’s most prominent social conservatives to discuss a primary challenge to DeWine next year. “The process has already started<\/a>,” Burress said.<\/p>\n * John Warner<\/b> (R-Va.) — Kenneth Cuccinelli, a far-right Republican state senator in Virginia, blamed Warner directly for helping lead the Gang of 14’s negotiations. Cuccinelli said Warner “cannot get through another election without a significant Republican challenger<\/a>,” though he did not specify who would take on the task.<\/p>\n * Lincoln Chafee<\/b> (R-R.I.) — Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey (R) has been considering a primary challenge to Chafee for a while anyway, and the Gang of 14 deal appears to have stoked the fires<\/a> even more.<\/p>\n